Does a prime minister have a right to party? Finland divided over Sanna Marin video

In a leaky video, Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin is seen dancing and singing with friends at a private party. The 36 -year -old leader poses for a camera. He sat down, hand behind his head. He was entangled in the arms of the group. He has fun. Countless similar videos are shared every day on social media by young people and not too young who are partying in Finland and throughout the world. But the leak had triggered a debate between the Finnish people about the level of sadness that was suitable for a prime minister, especially considering the Russian neighbor’s attack on Ukraine, who encouraged Finland and Sweden to be neutral long to apply for NATO membership.

Marin, who led the Social Democratic Party, left, had faced a series of questions about the party: Is there drugs? Alcohol? Does he work or take a summer vacation? Is the Prime Minister quite aware to handle the emergency that arises? Video, which is clearly taken by someone at the party, leaked on social media and attracted the attention of the Finnish media this week. Marin said he attended the party in recent weeks, but refused to say exactly where and when.

He also admitted that he and his friends celebrated in a “boisterous way” and alcohol – but, to his knowledge, no drugs were involved. He said on Friday that he took a drug test to end speculation about illegal substances. “I hope that in 2022 it will be accepted that even decision makers dance, sing and go to parties,” Marin told reporters. “I don’t want any picture to be spread, but it’s up to the voters to decide what they think about it.”

Prime Minister, who is married and has a 4 -year -old daughter, often insists that even though she is the head of the Finnish government, she is the same as someone else who likes good time with friends and family in their free time. At Helsinki on Friday afternoon, the opinion was split. Josua Fagerholm, who works in marketing, said the episode has the potential to damage the reputation of Finland and public trust in Finnish politicians.

“I think it is important for our politicians to be honored and enjoy public trust. So I don’t think it’s a good appearance, “he said. Mintuu Kylliaine, a student in Helsinki, disagreed. He said everyone was entitled to their opinions, but he felt the video leaked to be too much attention. “This is normal for, like a party,” Kyllianen said. “He also has to have fun, in his life.” Some supporters said criticism of the Prime Minister slapped sexism.

Marin became the youngest Prime Minister of Finland in 2019 at the age of 34. Even in egalitarian Nordic countries, Marin feels sex and age sometimes receive too much emphasis. He told Vogue Magazine in 2020 that “in every position I was once, my sex was always the starting point – that I was a young woman.”

Anu Koivonen, a professor of gender study in Finland’s University of Turku, said he did not think gender was a determining factor in a leaky video. He said the party itself was not a big problem, but the fact that the video leaked could be seen as an assessment lost by the Prime Minister in terms of people surrounded by him. “That he did not refrain in the company where he could not trust everyone in the room,” Koivonen said. “I think that’s the main problem.”

Jarno Limnell, a cyber security expert and politician for the Finnish conservative national coalition, said the party incident was problematic from a security point of view, noting that the peak leaders of Finland attracted to foreign security services. Information is collected from various sources, and even information that seems trivial can be significant for foreign forces, “Limnell told Finland newspaper Helsingin Sanomat. “The top decision maker is under close supervision during the NATO ratification process.” This is not the first time the Marin party has become headlines. In December, he apologized after going to clubbing until 4 am and skip the text message that advised him to avoid social contact because of his closeness to someone infected with Covid-19. Marin said he did not see the message because he had left his phone at home. He tested negatively for the virus.

Even in progressive societies such as Finland, Marin broke the typical politician mold. She grew up with a single mother who was in a relationship with another woman. Many Finnish people are proud of their modern approach to the office, including casual clothes. Marin set social media in April when he appeared to a press conference with his Swedish colleague wearing a black leather jacket. Marin and the female cabinet have also won praise in Finland and internationally to guide the country steadily through Pandemi Covid-19 and the NATO application process.

“Our prime minister is super,” said Jori Korkman, a retired at Helsinki. “He has taken his very difficult job for a very difficult time, and he has made one -class work. What he did in his free time was not our business. “